School of English and Liberal Studies

PROFESSOR’S ADDENDUM TO COURSE

Full Term – 14 Weeks

Course Code: CAN410

Title: Indigenous Awareness: Towards Truth and Reconciliation

Term: Summer 2023

Professor: Dr James Cullingham

Contact Info: james.cullingham@senecacollege.ca

Virtual Office Hours: Tuesday 10 – 11am or by appointment

Approved by: Irene Kanurkas, Chair - Irene. Kanurkas

Online Synchronous and Asynchronous (OB)
Online Exam

Comments:
We will meet weekly for approximately an hour in the virtual classroom. On occasions that will be
identified in the schedule, students will be completing an assignment on-line which will extend the
class to 90 minutes

Introduction
Welcome to CAN410 Indigenous Awareness: Towards Truth and Reconciliation
The past 500 years has introduced marginalizing intergenerational effects of colonization on
contemporary issues experienced by Indigenous Peoples in Canada. As a path towards Truth
and Reconciliation, this course will examine the impact of several factors. These include the
residential school system, treaties, The Indian Act, Indigenous authors, artists and
academics, murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls, and the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission.

Please read this addendum to the general subject outline carefully. It is your guide to the
subject requirements and activities in my class. Be sure to read the outline containing
key course information at https://apps.senecacollege.ca/ssos/login.do.
Texts & Materials

Required:
Calls to Action Truth and Reconciliation Canada
http://trc.ca/assets/pdf/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf
selections from:
Olive Patricia Dickason, Canada’s First Nations - A History of Founding Peoples from Earliest
Times (selections)
J.R. Miller, Compact, Contract, Covenant – Aboriginal Treaty-Making in Canada (selections)
John S. Milloy, A National Crime – The Canadian Government and Residential Schools
(selections)
Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Islands of Decolonial Love
E. Bian Titley, A Narrow Vision – Duncan Campbell Scott and The Administration of Indian
Affairs in Canada (selections)

Films for selection (screen one for assignment #2)

Time Immemorial, Hugh Brody (Tamarack Productions)
Foster Child, Gil Cardinal (NFB)
Duncan Campbell Scott – The Poet and The Indians, James Cullingham (Tamarack
Productions)
Birth of A Family, Tasha Hubbard (NFB)
Incident at Restigouche, Alanis Obomsawin (NFB)
Cree Hunters of Mistassini, Boyce Richardson & Tony Ianzelo (NFB)
The Learning Path, Loretta Todd (Tamarack Productions)

Books for selection (read one for assignment #3)

Red Skins, White Masks: Rejecting the Politics of Liberal Recognition, Glen Sean Coulthard
The Fur Queen, Tomson Highway
The Fourth World, George Manuel & Michael Posluns
Monkey Beach, Eden Robinson
This Accident of Being Lost, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson
Indian Horse, Richard Wagamese

Student/faculty

Academic Integrity & Copyright

Most of the materials posted in this course are protected by copyright. It is a violation of
Canada's Copyright Act and Seneca's Copyright Policy to share, post, and/or upload course
material in part or in whole without the permission of the copyright owner. This includes
posting materials to third-party file-sharing sites such as assignment-sharing or homework
help sites. Course material includes teaching material, assignment questions, tests, and
presentations created by faculty, other members of the Seneca community, or other
copyright owners.
It is also prohibited to reproduce or post to a third-party commercial website work that is
either your own work or the work of someone else, including (but not limited to) assignments,
tests, exams, group work projects, etc. This explicit or implied intent to help others may
constitute a violation of Seneca’s Academic Integrity Policy and potentially involve such
violations as cheating, plagiarism, contract cheating, etc.

These prohibitions remain in effect both during a student’s enrollment at the college as well
as withdrawal or graduation from Seneca.

Grading/Assignments
Location & family history assignment 15%
Film analysis 15%
Book analysis 15%
Mid-term Test 15%
Short Essay 20% (5% for annotated bibliography – 15% for paper)
Exam 20%
TOTAL 100%

Student/faculty online consultation

There will be time for comments and questions during each class. I will be available on-line during
virtual Office Hours and by appointment. E-mails from students will be replied to promptly usually
the same or next day during regular business hours: 8am – 5pm Monday to Friday.
 Tentative Weekly Schedule
Summer 2023
Full term - 14 weeks
Week Topic Reading Online %
Activities/
Assignment
1 Introduction Screen: The Ballad of Crowfoot,
May 08 Willie Dunn (NFB)
– 12
May 08 –
Term
begins
May 12 –
Last day to
add 14
weeks and
7S1/7S2
classes.
2 Understanding Understanding Aboriginal Identity
May 15 - Indigenous https://youtu.be/IcSnbXmJ9V0
identity
19
The Danger of a Single Story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
May 19 –
https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single
last day to
DROP 14
_story
weeks and
7S1 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples:
course(s) https://www.aadnc-aandc
with a
refund.
3 Pre Contact Reading: Dickason selection TBA
May 23 North
America and Screen: Totem – The Return of the G’psalox Pole (Gil Cardinal – NFB)
– 26
Contact, Fur
May 22 – Trade,
Victoria
Day
Indigenous
College worldview
Closed

4 Indigenous The Four Sacred Medicines LOCATION 15

May 29 spirituality, https://www.aht.ca/images/stories/TEACHINGS/FourSacredMedicines.pdf AND %
ceremonies, Traditional Healing HISTORY
– Jun 02 ASSIGNME
sacred spaces https://www.aht.ca/images/stories/TEACHINGS/Healing.pdf
and objects NT DUE

5 Treaties, the Reading selections J.R. Miller & E. Brian Titley TBA 15
Jun 05 – Indian Act, Land FILM %
Acknowledgem Screening: You Are On Indian Land, Mike Mitchell (NFB) ASSIGNME
09
ents NT TO BE
Jun 09 –
Last Day
WRITTEN
to drop IN CLASS
7S1
classes
and
receive a
grade of
DNC
6 The Indian Reading: 5%
Jun 12 – Residential “Now ain’t the time for your tears,” Annotated
School system Active History, June 28, 2021 http://activehistory.ca/2021/06/now-aint-the-
16 Bibliograph
time-for-your-tears/ James Cullingham,
y due
Screening: Muffins for Granny, Nadia McLaren
7 Indigenous Reading: Transitions: 25 years of film making & journalism in Indigenous Mid-Term 15
Jun 19 - Story-telling, communities, James Cullingham Test (in %
resurgence of
23 class)
Indigenous https://activehistory.ca/2018/03/appropriation-misappropriation-being-a-
Jun 23 –
Identity, settler-in-transition-reflections-on-25-years-of-film-making-journalism/
1st -7
weeks
changing the
(7S1) ends
narrative
Jun 26 – Study Week
Jun 30
8 The Truth and BOOK 15
Jul 04 – Reconciliation PM Harper Apology 2008 ANALYSIS %
Commission's https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCpn1erz1y8 WRITTEN
07 IN CLASS
94 Calls to
Jul 03 -
Action
Canada The Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action
Day
Observed
http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/File/2015/Findings/Calls_to_Actio
– College n_English2.pdf
Closed
Jun 04 –
7S2
Classes
Begin
Jul 07 –
Last Day
to add 7S2

9 Indigenous art Leanne Betasamosake Simpson How To Steal A Canoe

Jul 10 – and culture, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp5oGZ1r60g
history,
14
traditions Valentino (2016) "In collaboration with Christi Belcourt"
Jul 14
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQIfGDW9EAY
- Last day
to drop
Tanya Tagaq Demonstration of Throat Singing
7S2 and
receive a
refund
- Last day
to drop 14
wk.
classes
and
receive a
DNC grade
10 Indigenous Reading TBA Short essay 15
Jul 17 – people and the due %
urban
21 environment

11 Course Selected Media re MMIWG

Jul 24 – review CBC TV Power & Politics “This Is Genocide”
28 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-Gn3wu8bnI
MMIWG report
APTN (Aboriginal Peoples’ Television Network) Commissioner Robinson’s
speech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igd6SWJWGAQ

12 Reading selected media published in summer 2023 on Crown –

Jul 31 – Ongoing Indigenous peoples relationship in Canada. To be distributed week 11.
Aug 4 challenges &
Aug 4 – the path ahead
Last day
to drop
7S2
classes
and
receive a
grade of
DNC

13 Course review Screening Kanehsatake 270 Years of Resistance dir Alanis Obomsawin
Aug 08 (NFB)
– 11
Aug 7 –
Civic
Holiday
College
Closed

14 EXAM (in class) 20

Aug 14 – %
18
Summer
term ends
Friday
18st
Exam/Fin
al
Assessm
ent Week
Please retain this document for future
educational and/or employment use.
 Promotion Policy

Evaluation of Work
Evaluation is based on correct language usage, organization and mastery of the subject
at a post-secondary level. Students are expected to learn professional standards of
performance in the subject areas, and tests and assignments will be graded on that
basis.
To be successful in this subject, the student must complete all course work as specified
and achieve an overall grade of D (50%) or more.

Grading Policy
A+ 90% to 100%

A 80% to 89%

B+ 75% to 79%

B 70% to 74%

C+ 65% to 69%

C 60% to 64%

D+ 55% to 59%

D 50% to 54%

F 0% to 49% (Not a Pass)

OR

EXC Excellent
SAT Satisfactory
UNSAT Unsatisfactory

Missed Tests / Presentations / In-Class Assignments

Students who miss scheduled tests, presentations or in-class assignments will receive
a grade of zero. If there are valid reasons for missing the test, presentation or in-class
assignment, the student MUST:
a) Contact the professor or student advisor either by phone or by email prior to the
start time of the test, presentation or in-class assignment and
b) By the next class, present the professor with appropriate documentation. At the
professor’s discretion, a make-up test/in-class assignment or new date for the
presentation may be granted or the value of the test may be added to a subsequent
test or final exam. In courses where the grading scheme does not include the lowest
test mark, this missed test policy does not apply.

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deadline. Documentation of the extenuating circumstances must be provided by the
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any late assignment submissions. Student assessment policy is available on Student
Assessment Policy website.

Late assignments will result in a penalty of 5% per day to a maximum of five consecutive days.
Assignments will not be accepted after five consecutive days.

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Considerate classroom conduct, adequate class preparation, and constructive
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particular, you are asked to be prompt, courteous, responsible and collaborative.
Consistent attendance is important for success in this subject.

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on-one tutoring, small group tutoring, and workshops and is located in the libraries of the
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Dropping a Subject
Students can drop a fulltime day course by day 10 of the term from Student Home. After
day 10 of the term, students need to email a completed Timetable Change form to
theservicehub@senecacollege.ca, where students will receive a DNC (Did Not
Complete) grade on their transcripts.
Prior to dropping any courses, students are advised to contact the Coordinator/Advisor
to discuss any impacts on their studies. For more information, please visit Seneca's
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Academic Regulations

It is your responsibility as a student of Seneca College to be aware of and abide by the

academic and behavioural policies outlined in the College Academic Policy and the
Student Handbook. Here are some key policies:

Academic Integrity
Seneca College takes Academic Integrity very seriously. Therefore, all assignments in
this course must be completed independently (unless otherwise stated), and with
integrity. Copying and pasting from any source without correct quoting, paraphrasing,
and citations will be considered plagiarism. This or any other contravention of Seneca's
Academic Integrity Policy, including cheating, sharing, collusion, using Spinbots,
Contract Cheating, Falsification, Impersonation, submitting a previously-submitted
assignment, or unauthorized use of Artificial Intelligence Generated Content will be
reported to the Academic Integrity Committee. Please review the Academic Integrity
Policy.
To learn more about academic integrity and for resources to help you ensure academic
integrity in all your course work, please refer to the Seneca Library Citation &
Plagiarism Guides.

Student Appeals
Students have the right to appeal academic decisions of the College. If a student
disagrees with an academic decision, they must discuss the matter with their faculty
and program coordinator or chair as soon as possible to see if a mutually satisfactory
solution can be reached in accordance with the timeline stated in Seneca’s Academic
Appeal Procedure. It is only when a resolution cannot be agreed upon through the
informal appeal process that students may proceed to the formal academic appeal
process. Please review the Academic Appeal Policy.
Students must keep all assignments (including drafts and outlines) and exercises until
they receive their final grade. No appeal will be considered unless a complete file is
submitted at the time of the appeal.
Copyright
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protection applies whether or not a copyright symbol appears on the material. Only the
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work is to be copied, altered or made available. Regardless of format, the use,
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restrictions.
For more information, please visit Seneca Copyright Policy and Fair Dealing for
Copyright-Protected Work Policy.
Online sessions may be recorded and made available to students registered in this
class for their reference. Please review the Recording Lectures and Educational
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Camera Use and Recordings - Synchronous (Live) Classes

Synchronous (live) classes may be delivered in person, in a Flexible Learning space, or
online through a Seneca web conferencing platform such as MS Teams or Zoom.
Flexible Learning spaces are equipped with cameras, microphones, monitors and
speakers that capture and stream instructor and student interactions, providing an in-
person experience for students choosing to study online.
Students joining a live class online may be required to have a working camera in order
to participate, or for certain activities (e.g. group work, assessments), and high-speed
broadband access (e.g. Cable, DSL) is highly recommended. In the event students
encounter circumstances that impact their ability to join the platform with their camera
on, they should reach out to the professor to discuss. Live classes may be recorded and
made available to students to support access to course content and promote student
learning and success.
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and study in an environment that asserts the personal worth and dignity of each
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In addition to Seneca’s Student Code of Conduct Policy, students also have rights and
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policies and guidelines or regulations that may be administered by an academic school
or area within Seneca. Student are encouraged to familiarize themselves with these
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More information and assistance are available through the Student Conduct Office,

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Seneca is committed to providing an accessible teaching, learning, living and working
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For more information, visit our Accessible Learning Services page, or reach out to our
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